Portland DUI Lawyers

Field Sobriety Tests & DUII Charges in Oregon

In Oregon, drunk driving charges are referred to as DUII (driving under the influence of intoxicants). If pulled over for DUII, the arresting officer will likely ask the driver to perform field sobriety tests in order to determine whether his or her physical/mental abilities are impaired due to alcohol or drugs.

A Portland DUI lawyer can help you if you submitted to field sobriety tests and were arrested for DUII as a result. Although three of these tests have been standardized by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), none are completely accurate and all are subject to an officer’s individual interpretation of a driver’s performance. A skilled defense lawyer can work both in criminal court and at a driver’s DMV hearing in order to contest the results of field sobriety tests and help a driver avoid license suspension and a criminal conviction.

The three main field sobriety tests that a driver may face are the following:

• Walk and Turn: The officer will ask the driver to walk 9 steps in one direction, heel to toe, and turn around and walk the other way in the same manner. The officer will be looking for issues with balance and the driver’s ability to follow instructions.
• Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus: The officer will ask the driver to follow an object or light with his or her eyes. The officer will be looking for an involuntary side-to-side jerking movement of the eyes, which is thought to indicate intoxication.
• One Leg Stand: The officer will ask the driver to stand on one leg, raising the other about 6 to 12 inches off the ground. The officer will be looking for issues with balance as well as the driver’s ability to follow instructions in carrying out the test.

Portland DUI Defense Attorney

You need a Portland DUI attorney at your side if you were pulled over for DUII and submitted to field sobriety testing. By cross-examining the officer in court, using expert witnesses to evaluate any video of the field sobriety tests, and using any other means necessary, an experienced defense lawyer may be able to prove that a driver was actually not impaired due to the use of alcohol and/or drugs - thus providing effective DUI defense.

Contact a Portland DUI attorney at our firm regarding your field sobriety tests and how we can provide aggressive legal counsel.